National Puerto Rican Day Parade: routes and street closures in New York

Everything you need to know about Sunday's Puerto Rican Day Parade

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, one of the biggest celebrations in the city during the summer—more than two million people are expected to attend this year.

The theme for the parade is "Un Pueblo, Muchas Voces" (One Nation, Many Voices), which is intended to "celebrate the creativity and diversity of thought in Puerto Rico and across the diaspora." That's reflected in the honorees for this year's parade, who include salsa musician Gilberto Santa Rosa (who's this year's grand marshal) and TV personality Walter Mercado.

This year was also mired in some controversy over the inclusion of Oscar López Rivera, a Puerto Rican nationalist who served 35 years in prison before having his sentence commuted by President Barack Obama at the beginning of the year. (The Times has a full breakdown of why this is a controversial choice.) According to the New York Post, some of the floats that were scheduled to participate have dropped out; some city officials, including NYPD commissioner James O'Neill, have declined to participate. But parade organizers say that "an influx of new community groups and artists will fill any vacant street space."

All that aside, the festivities kick off in Midtown at 11 a.m., and are expected to last until the evening; here's the street closure situation, per the DOT:

Formation:

• 44th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
• 45th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
• 46th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
• 47th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
• 48th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue

Route:

• 5th Avenue between 43rd Street and 79th Street

Dispersal:

• 5th Avenue between 79th Street and 85th Street
• 79th Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
• 80th Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
• 81st Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
• 82nd Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
• 83rd Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue

You know the drill: this means traffic—both vehicular and foot—in Midtown and the Upper East Side will be a bit messy on Sunday, so plan accordingly.